This opens with a cherry liqueur note and dark concentration. There’s a touch of barbecue smoke or teriyaki sauce backed by gritty tannins and ripe fruit. — (9/1/2012) —87

This is a good portrait of Nebbiolo save for a pungent touch of powder or solvent that distracts from the overall harmony of fruit. Those strong elements are not outside the great boundaries of this important native Italian grape and are more than forgiven in this case. ——M.L.(9/1/2011)—— 87

Smoke, toast, mesquite and barbecue tones emerge from the nose of this nicely concentrated Barbaresco from La Spinona. There’s not much fruit here as the wine’s aromas are mostly occupied by the secondary perfumes acquired through wood aging. Expect those to evolve and become more ethereal with time.——M.L.(12/1/2010)—— 89